Machine for cleaning containers

ABSTRACT

A machine for cleaning containers by discharge of high-pressure liquid from at least one set of nozzles, past which the containers are carried by a conveyor. Two links belts run along the conveyor in the region of the nozzles and a plurality of elastic cords are attached to the links and cross each other under tension for pressing the containers against the conveyor in the region of the nozzles.

United States Patent Graber et al.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING CONTAINERS Inventors: Andreas Graber; Claus Hiirr, both of Oftringen, Switzerland Assignee: Niro-Plan AG Oftringen, Oftringen,

Switzerland Filed: Mar. 6, 1974 Appl. No.: 448,481

Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 13. 1973 Switzerland 3660/73 US. Cl. 134/127; 134/131; 134/152 Int. Cl BOSb 3/02; B08b 9/08; B08b 11/02 Field of Search 134/72, 73, 126, 127, 131,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/1934 Anstiss 134/127 1 Aug. 19, 1975 1.987.231 l/1935 Engel 134/127 2,502,728 4/1950 Johnson 2,986,911 6/1961 Jackson 134/127 X Primary ExaminerRobert L. Bleutge Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wigman & Cohen [57] ABSTRACT A machine for cleaning containers by discharge of high-pressure liquid from at least one set of nozzles, past which the containers are carried by a conveyor. Two links belts run along the conveyor in the region of the nozzles and a plurality of elastic cords are attached to the links and cross each other under tension for pressing the containers against the conveyor in the region of the nozzles.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUB1 91975 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG.3

framework tocarry the containers to becleaned past.

at, least one set of-nozz'les connected-to a source of high-pressurecleansing-liquid Such, installations are used, for exampleg'in meatpacking plants, slaughterhouses,hospitals, institutional kitchens, and industrial operations'This type of'clea'n f ing has therefore been carried out by means of'cleansing liquid under low pressure, supplied to the nozzles at a maximum gauge pressure of'lO atm. The'cleansing liquid is then sprayed on the containers in large quantities, usually through filters, by means of circulating pumps. In order to obtain a good cleaning effect, the liquid must be heated. A further disadvantage of the principle of the liquid-circulation process is that bacteriologically impure liquid is always reused several times for cleaning the containers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine which makes it possible to thoroughly to clean containers and other articles to be washed hygienically and with a maximum of bacteriological safety while using a minimum amount of cleansing liquid, Hence the invention is based upon a machine having at least one set of nozzles connected to a source of high-pressure cleansing liquid. The gauge pressure of the cleansing liquid can, for example, be up to 60 atm, and the noz-, zles are of a type known per se which discharge the high-pressure cleansing liquid in focused or concentrated streams. Also in a manner known per se, these nozzles can be provided in groups on holders by means of which they are swivelled back and forth.

When the containers to be cleaned are treated with high-pressure liquid, the risk naturally exists that they will be lifted off the moving conveyor. It is therefore a more particular object of the invention to prevent the containers from being lifted off the conveyor in this,

way.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of an endless, self-contained contrivance, moving at the same speed as the conveyor, for pressing the containers to be cleaned against the conveyor in the re-' gion of the nozzles. In a preferred embodiment, this pressing means comprises two link belts running over guide members, disposed at a fixed distance from one another at the front and at the rear of the machine, respectively, and a plurality of elastic cords crossing each other under tension from the links of the one link belt to those of the other link belt, the sections of the two link belts adjacent to the bed of the conveyor in the region of the nozzles being disposed so close to the said bed that the cords are stretched around the containers which pass beneath them at that point. The sections of the two link belts adjacent to the bed of the conveyor may preferably be held in guide tracks.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FlG, l shows an elevation of an embodiment of the machine in accordance with the invention,

PEG. 2 shows a cross-section along the line II-ll of Fit]. l,

FIG. 3 illustrates on a larger scale a detail from FIG. 2 representing a cross-section of the portion of the vpres singmearissituated in the region ofthenozzles and of .theassociated guidejracks and. cleanr 1 4 is a top. plan .view on FIG,;3.

The, framework of the. illustrated machine for cleaning and disinfecting containers, and possibly other articles to be washed, is designated generally by the referencenumerall and consists of, a single structure. In the lower part of this framewor. l ,,wi thin a trough 2 serving to drain off cleansing liquid, there is a conveyor 3 consisting' of two parallel chains .4 and a plurality of cross- 'rotation with a driving sprocket 8 by means of a shaft.

The conveyor 3 is driven by a variable'speed motor 9 via a chain 10 in such a way that, as viewed in FIG. 1, the bed of the conveyor 3 moves from left to right as indicated by the arrow 11. The reference numerals l2 designate nozzles which spray soil-removing cleaning liquid from above and below onto the containers lying on the bed of the conveyor 3. The reference numerals 13 designate nozzles which spray disinfectant in a similar manner. Between the nozzles 12 and the nozzles 13 is a support 14 forming part of the framework 1 in which four nozzle holders 15 are rotatingly mounted in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2. Each such holder 15 carries about three nozzles 16 which are connected through the holders 15 to a high-pressure water source; the gauge pressure of the water supply can amount, for example, to atm, and the nozzles 16 discharge very forceful focused or concentrated streams of water which are, moreover, swivelled back and forth by the reciprocating movement of the holders 15. This reciprocating movement takes place by means of a chain drive of which only the chain 17 and guide pulleys 18 are shown.

To prevent the passing containers from being lifted off the bed of the conveyor 3, and also to prevent a displacement of the containers with respect to the bed, a special pressing means is provided, designated generally by the reference numeral 19. This pressing means is endless and self-contained and runs at the same speed as the conveyor 3. As may be seen particularly from FIGS. 3 and 4, it comprises two roller links belts 21 disposed at a fixed distance from one another at the front and at the rear of the machine, respectively. The belts 21 run over guide pulleys 20, and each of their facing links is provided with a projecting eyelet 22. The pressing means 19 further comprises a plurality of elastic cords 23 crossing each other under tension from these links, or more precisely, from the eyelets 22 of the one of these two belts 21 to those of the other. In the region of the nozzles 16, the sections of the two roller link belts 21 adjacent to the bed of the conveyor 3 are disposed so close to this bed, in tracks 24, that the cords 23 are stretched around the containers which pass beneath them at that point, in the manner indicated in FIG. 2. The pressing means 19 could be set in motion in this way. It is preferable, however, to provide a drive connection between the pressing means 19 and the conveyor 3, as shown in the illustrated example of an embodiment, in the form of two chain transmission mechanisms, one with the chain 10 and another with a chain 25. In the example depicted, the upper sections of the two roller link belts 21 are also held in tracks 26 which are similar to the tracks 24 and are secured in the uppermost part of the machine framework.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor changes could be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for cleaning articles to be washed, particularly containers, having a conveyor running within a framework to carry the containers to be cleaned past at least one set of nozzles connected to a source of high-pressure liquid, wherein an endless, self-contained means running at the same speed as the conveyor is provided for pressing the said containers against the conveyor in the region of the said nozzles, said means for pressing comprises two link belts running over guide members, disposed at a fixed distance from one another at the front and at the rear of the machine, respectively, and a plurality of elastic cords crossing each other under tension from the links of the one link belt to those of the other link belt,-the sections of the two link belts adjacent to the bed of the conveyor in the regions of the said nozzles being disposed so close to the said bed that the cords are stretched around the containers which pass beneath them at that point.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the sections of the two link belts adjacent to the bed of the conveyor are held in guide tracks. 

1. A machine for cleaning articles to be washed, particularly containers, having a conveyor running within a framework to carry the containers to be cleaned past at least one set of nozzles connected to a source of high-pressure liquid, wherein an endless, self-contained means running at the same speed as the conveyor is provided for pressing the said containers against the conveyor in the region of the said nozzles, said means for pressing comprises two link belts running over guide members, disposed at a fixed distance from one another at the front and at the rear of the machine, respectively, and a plurality of elastic cords crossing each other under tension from the links of the one link belt to those of the other link belt, the sections of the two link belts adjacent to the bed of the conveyor in the regions of the said nozzles being disposed so close to the said bed that the cords are stretched around the containers which pass beneath them at that point.
 2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the sections of the two link belts adjacent to the bed of the conveyor are held in guide tracks. 